ABOUT NEW SOUTH WALES
New South Wales is a south-eastern Australian state, distinguished by its coastal cities and national parks. Sydney, its capital, is home to iconic structures such as the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge. Inland are the rugged Blue Mountains, rainforests and outback towns where opals are mined. Along the coastline are long surfing beaches. The Hunter Valley region, in the north, has dozens of wineries.
Popular seaside driving routes include the twisting Grand Pacific Drive, linking Sydney to the industrial harbour town of Wollongong. Heading north, the Pacific Highway passes the Port Stephens area (known for its dolphins and water sports), relaxed Coffs Harbour and bohemian Byron Bay. New South Wales also has hundreds of national parks protecting the region’s diverse environments, ranging from desert to forested cliffs to the slopes of the Snowy Mountains. The varied terrain allows for all sorts of outdoor pursuits like skiing, bushwalking, paddle boarding, rock-climbing and alpine horse trekking.
